Dear KI-Media Readers,
42 years ago, exactly to the date, Cambodia underwent a major change: we overthrew Prince Sihanouk. As a kid in elementary school, I still remember very clearly that day. Under normal circumstances, my father, who worked as a civil servant, invariably arrives home for lunch between 11:30 and noon. However, on March 18, 1970, my father came home quite late from his work. It was not until about mid-afternoon before he got home. In response to my mother’s anxious questions, he started telling us about the event of the day: the National Assembly decided to vote Prince Sihanouk out of power. We were all stunned by the turn of event, although, having heard on the news about the various unrests in the country, we knew that something may happen, but none of us expected that Prince Sihanouk, who more or less ruled Cambodia with his iron fist, could ever be removed from power.
I remembered asking my father what will happen to our country now that Sihanouk is no longer in power. He looked at me, smiled and said mischievously: “Don’t you worry son, he is not the only one who can rule this country.” From that day on, I noticed that my father would spend more time listening to the news, especially Beijing radio in the evening and Voice of America early in the morning. Several of his friends would stop by to discuss with him about the change that took place. Although I had no idea where we were heading into, I felt elated to the news: finally we could freely talk, read and learn about the misdeeds of Sihanouk regime and those of his cronies. Rumors circulating about the transportation of supplies to the Vietcong from Sihanoukville to the Vietnamese border are now on the frontpage of major newspapers. Several of my father’s friends decided to join the military rank, however, he stubbornly declined the offer.
As my family came from the border with Vietnam, it was not long before we started to feel the impact of the regime change. Suddenly, our house was filled with relatives who had to flee our village with the advance of the Vietcong/North Vietnamese Army. Subsequently, our village also witnessed the arrival of the South Vietnamese army. One of my cousins who decided to remain in the village told us later: “The South Vietnamese soldiers are thieves, they looted everything, even entire wooden houses were dismantled and taken over to South Vietnam.” I believe it was after that event that he decided to join the Khmer Rouge, meanwhile, his brother, an army officer, was fighting for the Khmer Republic. Both brothers would never see each other again: the army officer was killed by the KR shortly after they took power in 1975 and the one who joined the KR died of starvation and/or disease during the KR reign of terror.
If I had to relive these events all over again, having seen what abyss Cambodia has fallen into nowadays, I would gladly endorse a movement to rid Cambodia of the current and past useless monarchy which only serves as a rubber stamp to the tyrannical CPP regime.
Politics aside, please allow me to share with you a few songs from the Khmer Republic era. I have chosen these songs because they are NOT the ones you are used to hear (such as Lea Srey Tov Chhbang by Sin Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea etc…), but they represent a fresh crop of songs from that era that expressed our hope and our apprehension. Some of the songs are from unknown groups (at least they are to me), if any of you know these groups, please share the information with us.
Thank you for your time,
P. from Long Beach
PS: To T. from Ldn! Thank you for explaining clearly what I couldn’t do too well.
Unknown Group - Yuvachon Yuvatey Cheat Khmer
Unknown Group - Sa'ek Bang Chol Thveu Yuth-chon
Unknown Group - Neak Poar Krahorm
Unknown Group - Korng Pol Thmeur Cheung Ti 12
Unknown Group - Ayuk Min Oss Min Slab
Thet Sambath and Pen Ram - Para Toap Khmer
Pen Ran - Khnhom Phnheur Chamrieng
Duch Kim Hak - Cheat Trov Kar Neak Heuy
8 comments:
These songs were released from Mietophoum CDs, now no longer exist. I have a completed set of theses revolutionary songs and mores.
Thank you for sharing these songs. I never heard it and love them very much, especially the 3rd and last one from top. Now it is time again that we must commits ourselves to protect our country from the Vietcong.
US Khmer
Not so fast Mister!
Re: PS: To T. from Ldn! Thank you for explaining clearly what I couldn’t do too well.
and
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=14854511&postID=3704211733396113797&isPopup=true
T from Ldn said...
".... What P from LB means is that although life under the Khmere Republic was not a full democracy but it gives the Khmer people a "limited amount of freedom rights" which was "welcome" compared to life unde the "Sihanouk's regime".
Does this imply that the Sihanouk's regime is democratic? No it is not."
Question:
Can you same smart arse P. From Long Beach/T from Ldn tell the readers - No it is not a democratic regime or No it does not imply that the Sihanouk's regime is democratic?
It's just great English!(sarcastic)
marchh 18, 1970 was just another day in the long history of cambodia. life goes on with or without you. look to the brighter future of cambodia, ok! keep getting good education is the best investment in yourself, really! be smart, clever but not evil and selfish, and be wise and enlightened. learning is a life long process, it never stop until our last breath on earth. god bless all.
Mr. P from Long Beach,
Thank you sincerely for your writing and reminiscence of the event of March 18, 1970.
Yes, indeed 42 years have elapsed since that day. As I was reading your posting, I was also transported back to Phnom Penh and see in my head the events that took place on that day. My class was still going on when we heard the news.
Thank you very much indeed for the songs. This is the first time I hear them again after 1975. I have listened to these songs twice now and want to dedicate them to the memory of many of my wonderful friends who died during the Khmer Rouge period.
Pissed off
What's better than old timers reminisce...so emotionally, eh?
Don't mind me, I just butt out, now!!!
To: Lok P From Longbeach,
Thank you for sharing the songs, I would like to dedicate
the Toap Para Song to:
Lieutenant-Colonel Hing Nu
Commander of the 4th
battallion of Khmer Para Trooper.
Major Keo Sam An, Deputy
Commander.
Second Lieutenant Khek Nim
Second Lieutenant Chau Khun
First Lieutenant Hing Sineth
Sergent 3rd class Hing Kong
Sergent Hing Sothi
of the Khmer Republic Para trooper
and many other who fought bravely to defend Khmer nation from the invasion of the NVA.
a survivor of the NVA and
The Khmer Rouge atrocities.
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